Midnight Falls (Sky Brooks Series Book 3)

by McKenzie Hunter

  Abigail continued with her impassioned speech, dividing her attention between Winter and Sebastian. “He needed an incentive. He squandered his life, wasting time on trivialities and behaving as though he was ever meant to have this life as his own. My father wanted a predecessor to continue his legacy. The sole purpose of Gideon’s existence was to continue the name my father established. Do you understand what he went through, the debts he accumulated, the favors he called in, just so he can have a child, a son? And Gideon has just made a mockery of a life that was expected to accomplish far more,” she asserted, raising her voice. Finding calm, she stepped closer to Winter. She went to touch her cheek but Winter jerked away. “Mason did it to the others. I didn’t have a hand in that. Gideon was a threat to his position and it was only a matter of time before he came for him. I am protecting my brother and in the process making sure something good comes out of it,” she continued.

  Winter’s frown softened, but was devoid of forgiveness. She simply shook her head. “You knew I would help and that I would bring him here. You didn’t just risk Gideon’s life, but Dr. Jeremy’s as well.”

  “I didn’t use you, Winter,” she said softly. “You know if I were ever in a position to help you in any way, I would have. My feelings for you didn’t end because the relationship did.”

  “How convenient that mine didn’t either. The difference is that I would never ask you to help me betray my family or my pack. You haven’t changed at all. Power over everything. You care nothing about your father’s legacy or fulfilling his dying wishes. You want to be the sister of the ruler of the elves. You know that you can never rule because of their antiquated sexist laws, so you plan to do so by proxy. Gideon listens to you and will do anything you ask of him. You are a piece of work,” Winter said as she walked away. She pushed her way past Abigail and left.

  I expected a lot of vitriol from Sebastian, but there was nothing. He was calm and professional, as though what Abigail had done wasn’t a horrific act of betrayal. He was unequivocally composed and placid. I wasn’t sure what to make of it.

  With an unexpected confidence, Abigail turned and approached Sebastian. “There is no doubt who will rule us by the end of the year. You saved Gideon’s life. His memory is long and it is something he will not forget,” she said.

  Draped in passivity, Sebastian didn’t respond. Everything made him angry, yet this paramount betrayal didn’t seem to bother him. Then it dawned on me: he wasn’t angry because he knew. He had known all along and her confession was just a formality.

  He stepped closer to her, his striking appearance dulled by his pensiveness. It took a while for him to respond, and when he did, it was soft, intended for her ears only. “A group divided will never prevail. That is something that Gideon should make a priority, don’t you think?”

  She smiled. “I agree.”

  Gideon would become the leader and Abigail and Sebastian would ensure that there was a civil war among the elves. If Gideon won, great, Sebastian now had the elf leader as his ally. Someone that felt indebted to him because he saved his life. If he lost, the war would leave them weak, no longer an asset to the witches, who would quickly sever their alliance. The witches wouldn’t have the strength in numbers that they hoped the alliance would give them. They wouldn’t want to be allies with a people that were going through a civil war. Nor would they see the advantage in being allies with a group splintered by a war. Best case scenario, Gideon would get a taste of power and his disdain for Liam would work to destroy them. It was a win for Sebastian in any case. In one sweeping act, Sebastian and Abigail had ended the alliance with the witches and orchestrated a civil war.

  Abigail was careful with her words as she spoke. “Kelly interests him and it would be a good match. She is untainted by—” she stopped. Manners wouldn’t allow her say “impurity.” “She would be easily accepted as his companion and her commitment to you would be advantageous.”

  Was this really happening? Were they bargaining with her like she was property, a pawn in their sick little game of power and manipulation, to use as needed, sacrifice if necessary, barter when fit? I was just about to voice my opinion, even though I didn’t have to. If Kelly ever gained knowledge of this situation she wouldn’t have had a problem telling Sebastian or anyone else her thoughts in the most scathing way possible.

  He chuckled, but any amusement was absent. “Let’s get this straight. You fumbled your way into success with this, and it came with a big cost. Instead of possibly killing Dr. Jeremy, you put Kelly in harm’s way,” he said. The fuse of his anger was lighting quickly. “I will not forgive that.” His icy tone caused her to take a step back. “You were willing to sacrifice your brother, I don’t care. But she is not part of this, and you will never involve her again.”

  “She was a casualty of this situation and it was not my intention for her to be hurt,” Abigail rebutted quickly.

  “But she was.”

  A woman that masterminded her brother into power while giving an award-winning performance didn’t strike me as one that would scare easily. But the ominous look on his face made her stand up a little taller. The cloying look on her face faded. “If I am not mistaken, you having her here in any capacity put her in harm’s way. I am not to blame for her predicament; you are. If she continues, I doubt this will be the last time her safety will be compromised. Your only hope will be that Gideon values her enough to protect her life too. You seem as though you may need some assistance in that matter,” she stated, matching his tone.

  “I assure you I will not need your or your brother’s help with this,” he said confidently.

  Once again, her voice was casually soft and entreating. She started to slowly walk the space in front of her, and the cruelty that Winter had spoken of peeked through. “My brother is easily distracted. The women he has entertained himself with lately aren’t fit to run their own lives, let alone be responsible for others. She would offer the needed stability for him. They would be a good pairing. She cares a great deal for your pack and I believe would steer him toward decisions that would greatly benefit it,” she asserted.

  She had it all figured out. Her brother was nothing but a puppet that she controlled with her strings of manipulation. He would rise to power, thinking that his sister was his number one advocate, ignorant of the fact that she was the puppeteer. He would get married, a union arranged by her with the person she felt would best suit her cause. There was hungry glint to her. She didn’t do it for her brother, for her people, or because she thought her brother was the best choice—it was for power. Who was I kidding? It was always for power.

  I couldn’t believe that all this time I had been naïve enough to believe that empires were built by hard work and strategy, only to discover that they were built the same way they were destroyed—from within, through backhanded dealings, manipulation, deceit and secret alliances.

  “They will be a good pairing for us both,” she said. Her unrelenting gaze was a subtle threat that she could easily deny.

  Sebastian’s gaze shifted to the floor for so long that it seemed like he had forgotten she was there.

  Was he considering this? Was this what happened? Were people’s futures handled like commerce, discussed and exchanged for favors? Sebastian was silent, giving her his undivided attention. I was just seconds from voicing my enraged and unsolicited opinion.

  He stepped closer to her, straining to keep the pleasant look on his face. “Your brother will stay away from her and you will stay away from Winter,” he said firmly.

  “I can’t stop his attraction to her. And as far as Winter is concerned, I do still care for her. I always will. But I care about my people and my brother’s positon as leader more. It is unfortunate that she was hurt in the process. If I could have had it any other way, I would have.”

  Sebastian’s chuckle lacked warmth; in fact, it was dark and portentous. “I’m sorry. I didn’t make myself clear. That wasn’t a suggestion, it was a command. The topic isn�
�t up for debate.”

  A gentle bend played at her lips and moved effortlessly over her features. “I am not part of your pack, so your commands mean nothing to me. But I can see how you would forget that. Today has been quite a trying day for us all.” She looked directly at me then back to Sebastian. “Especially for Ethan. It has been exceptionally trying for him. Will you give him my regards?” she said as she headed for the door. “But today, and all that has transpired, should be forgotten. Don’t you think that is a good idea?”

  Snuffing his anger seemed impossible; the veins exposed on his neck as the muscles tightened. He simply nodded in agreement. Yes, he had benefited from the deal, but the clear winner in this situation was Abigail.

  CHAPTER 13

  Ethan answered the door and stepped aside to let me in before I could complete the knock. A half-empty box of pizza, several mystical books, and his laptop covered the large cognac-colored ottoman. He pushed it aside, giving me more room as I negotiated around the crowded space near the sofa. The floor was cluttered with more books, and stacks of paper with messy script scrawling on it also covered the floor. Usually his tailored clothing flattered his physique, but now he didn’t look like himself. His well-worn jeans and loose t-shirt hung off his him casually and he wore the trials of the day heavily on his face.

  Taking a seat across from him, I sat comfortably in the oversized chair and waited for him to speak. After nine minutes of silence, I realize that if it were up to Ethan, Mercury would rise again and we would still be sitting on the sofa with less than five words spoken between us.

  Where did I start? A bastille for the creatures the elves created that were too heinous to live among the general population wanted him. It was where their mistakes were sequestered and hidden from the world and the forest was attempting to retrieve portentous creatures. It had tried to break open just to claim him. I always considered Ethan dangerous, but on a smaller scale. I truly had no idea.

  “What are you?” It felt odd being the one asking that question when Ethan had asked me the same thing so many times.

  Sinking back into the sofa, his lips formed a severe line. It took a long time for him to speak; his hands roughly washed over his face. “My grandmother was a dark elf; she died eight days ago.”

  You don’t just blurt something like that out. You ease into telling someone that. You say something like: as of eight days ago I became death. Witches’, faes’, and elves’ magic are never destroyed; the gifts are passed on through bloodlines. Wolf magic often prevented things like that from happening, but obviously it wasn’t an exact science because Ethan had inherited some of his mother’s witch magic upon her death, although most of it was passed on to Josh. Since Ethan and Josh were only half-brothers, and the dark elf magic affected Ethan only, it must have been his paternal grandmother that had died

  “Do you have any aunts or uncles?”

  He shook his head. Which meant he had inherited it all.

  She was lucky to have been allowed to live long enough to see her grandchildren. How did she live her life? Did her life imitate Ethan’s childhood where she was forced to live with an absurd amount of iridium on her, or even pumped into her to suppress the magic? Was it in constant fear that she would be discovered? Was it a solitary life because she was too afraid to let anyone in? Living in constant fear that a simple uncontrolled touch could cause someone’s death?

  How much control did she need to make sure she could touch someone without killing them? To interact with Ethan without the doubt that she could hurt him? She had to know how to control it to some extent, after all, Ethan had learned to control it in just days and she had lived with it all her life.

  “The other day, with me, was an accident, wasn’t it?”

  He looked down at his hands, watching his fidgeting fingers. When he finally looked up from his hands, his steely titanium eyes were distant and indecipherable. “I am not as strong as she was, the wolf part of me controls some of that.” He shrugged. “It gets better each day.”

  Well, maybe he believed it, but his words lacked the confidence to make me believe it.

  He relaxed back onto the sofa. He looked so defeated, like a wounded animal just moments from being put down. Now, he was forced to battle constantly with how he interacted with people and trying to contain his new power. Making sure he had control in even the most minor situation. At any given moment, he could have killed Josh.

  “So what happens now?” I asked. Well, I knew what was supposed to happen. Based on the agreement, he was supposed to be “contained.” The idea of it made me sick. It was a stupid rule initiated by the elves and it needed to be overturned. “Does Sebastian know?”

  “Yeah, he is the only one that does.” He smiled weakly in my direction. “Was the only one that knew.”

  I didn’t know what to say. Things had changed. If anyone else found out, then they were obligated to adhere to the covenant. Of course, anyone in the pack would honor the secret, but eventually something would slip, someone else would find out, maybe even Abigail would use it to blackmail the pack. Or what if someone like Demetrius found out? I was sure he was itching for a way to get back at Ethan. But I found some comfort that soon Gideon would control the elves and maybe he could change this.

  “Does it work?” I asked, pointing to the iridium-cuffed band around his wrist.

  He shrugged. “I don’t know. I had it on in Elysian and it didn’t seem to work.”

  I looked over the mass of books sprawled over his sofa, table, and ottoman. The witches could remove magic from witches as punishment. Could the same be done with elves? I’m sure we would need more than just Josh, and the witches would rather “contain” the situation than help Ethan. To them it would be just one less were-animal in the world. With Ethan out of the way, Josh could be easily persuaded to end his alliance with the pack.

  “We need to get the Aufero,” I said.

  He nodded thoughtfully. “I thought about that, but I have no idea where it is.”

  “I do,” I blurted. “Well, not exactly. I have an idea where it may be.” I grabbed my purse and pulled out four pieces of papers and laid them out in front of him. Each sketch was more detailed than the other, focusing on different parts of the room. “I saw this room that year I was in the in-between.”

  “These were done at different times,” he said inspecting them. “Why?”

  His deep inquiring gaze made taking creative liberties with the truth impossible. “I visited it again, recently,” I admitted.

  He frowned. “With Josh, I presume,” he said.

  I nodded.

  “You have indeed become one of his weaknesses,” he said, his voice rough with disappointment. He sighed, then returned his attention to the paper in his hand.

  “Better me than anyone else. I will never hurt, betray him, or point a gun in his face,” I said, reminding him of when Chris had done just that when we first met.

  “You say that now,” he mumbled under his breath as he studied the sketches.

  He placed the laptop on the ottoman. His fingers clicked away on the keys, preoccupied by whatever was on the screen as he kept glancing up at me. Several times, I caught him watching me. From the printer, as he retrieved the pages he printed.

  “Are you sleeping with him?” he asked, the deep gaze demanding a response.

  “With who?”

  “You know damn well who. Are you screwing my brother?” he snapped.

  I am not sure why I didn’t just give him a straight answer; it would have made life a lot easier. “It’s your brother; maybe you should ask him about his personal life.”

  “He wouldn’t tell me.”

  “Probably because it isn’t any of your business,” I pointed out as I reached for the list. He held on to it. My gaze didn’t waver as it fixed on his.

  Damn, he is intense. Okay, let’s just make this easy. “We can sit here all day while you speculate about what goes on between me and Josh in the bedroom, but we both nee
d the Aufero. Don’t you think we should dedicate our energy to looking for it?” I said, taking the papers from him and laying them on the ottoman so that we could get a better look.

  “What is this?” I asked, pointing to the odd symbol from my picture.

  “It’s a protection symbol, most people have them simply for the esthetics. If enchanted correctly, it weakens all magical beings that enter the shop. Marcia would never have a real one where she keeps the Aufero, because it would weaken it and her as well. I’ve seen them in all of these places, but I am not sure which ones are real. We will have to go to them.”

  I took a pen and marked off the ones that I had gone to. He looked at the list, now slashed by a third, and smiled.

  When he extended his hand to help me off the sofa, I hesitated before I took it. He pulled me up and he stood close. Leaning down, he pressed his forehead against mine. Then his lips brushed lightly against mine. It wasn’t a kiss; his lips just remained there, warm and inactive against mine. He smiled, then stepped away. “It’s getting easier,” he admitted.

  Oh great, he had decided to practice his death touch on me. Glad I could help, buddy!

  I pulled my hands back. “What does it feel like?”

  “Chaos. If I am calm, I can control it better. It is harder with you around,” he admitted.

  He reached out and touched my arm and held it again. The tension relaxed and the weight he had carried since I entered the home lifted, there was a buoyancy to his smile. “It’s a lot better.”

  During the day, we went to each place. Ethan didn’t hide his ability or even care that I knew that he could detect magic, something that were-animals shouldn’t be able to do. Even when I hadn’t borrowed magic, I could still detect it. Since our visit to Logan, I wondered if my skills were a “Sky” thing or a “Maya” thing. We walked through each store, inconspicuously looking for secret rooms, eyeing the protection spells to determine if they were authentic. Sometimes, if the owner watched us too long or became suspicious, we purchased something. After we visited each store, we’d narrowed the list down to three.