Dangerous Influence (The Harcourte Vampyre Society Book 5)

by Morgan Kelley

  “You were drugged. They were using some kind of herbs on the dagger, and it knocked you out.”

  He rubbed his chin against Jolie’s head as she rested on his chest. “Are you okay?” he asked, his heart kicking up. “They didn’t hurt you, did they? Are our children safe?”

  She hugged him. “I’m fine, and your babies are too.”

  Still, Flynn heard it in her voice.

  She was far from fine.

  Glancing over, his mate was resting there, watching him with unblinking eyes.

  “Thank you for what you did.”

  He patted his hand on his abs. “Don’t thank me. She’s ours to protect. I won’t let our children be hurt.”

  It was time to discuss it.

  “What happened?” Jacques asked. He had already gotten Vanth’s side of the story, but he wanted to hear it from Flynn.

  “I was asleep, and they pulled her away from me. That’s what woke me. Then I got her back.”

  His fangs peeked out from behind his lip as he relived it. When his eyes bled black, Jolie knew he was angry.

  “Jacques thinks it was Mathew.”

  Flynn growled low in his chest, his claws coming out. “He has to die.”

  Jolie began crying.

  She couldn’t help it.

  Flynn pulled her into his arms and rolled, placing her between them. “Baby, I’m sorry,” he said, touching her cheek. “If he betrayed us, there’s nothing we can do.”

  She was aware.

  She didn’t kill Geneviève when she should have, and the woman came back and hurt Flynn.

  Jolie had mercy on Zola, and she returned too.

  What choice did she have?

  Once the family became aware of what happened, they would have to kill him—if they had proof.

  “I’ll handle it,” Jacques stated.

  Jolie sobbed harder.

  “No, I will,” stated Flynn. “I’ll handle it.”

  Jacques watched him. “I can do this,” he offered. They both knew that Flynn was still part human. He didn’t like killing, but he was trapped between their worlds.

  “How do we prove it?” he said, owning what had to be done.

  “I have a way.”

  Jacques told him everything in his plan. Jolie listened, tears still pouring down her cheeks.

  She hated this.

  Why had he done it?

  They would have protected him.

  They loved Mathew like he was one of their own.

  “Will it work?”

  “I think so.”

  Flynn cuddled Jolie into his body. “Then make it happen. We’ll see if Mathew is indeed a betrayer.”

  With that, the plan went into motion.

  * * * H a r c o u r t e * * *

  When Mathew felt the tickle to his mind, he began freaking out. He knew who it was before he even answered.

  It was Jacques.

  He calmed himself as he opened for him.

  ‘Yes?’

  ‘We need you. Someone has attacked the house, and we have dead.’

  Mathew’s heart pounded in his chest. Jacques sounded distraught.

  ‘Who?’

  ‘Flynn, two other vampyres, and Jolie.’

  The second he heard that, Mathew wanted to be sick. ‘I’ll be right there!’

  He raced from the art store and to the Hummer they had bought him.

  This wasn’t what he wanted.

  Jolie was supposed to live.

  How had he agreed to do this? He was promised that she wouldn’t die.

  Now he lost her.

  Mathew knew he had made a horrible mistake.

  She paid for his betrayal.

  He would never forgive himself for as long as he lived.

  * * * H a r c o u r t e * * *

  Flynn was in their bed, and he was getting ready for the show to begin. He was covered with a sheet, and Jacques was helping him keep his heartbeat slow. He could still hear Jolie weeping in his head, and it broke his heart.

  In their room, Clariel, Camille, Percy, and Tommy sat. None of them, but Percy, knew what was going on. They were only told that someone had breached the house and their mistress was dead.

  The female vampyres wept for her, and Tommy for his partner.

  Flynn hated lying to them, but what choice did they have? They needed to find out if Mathew had betrayed them.

  Next to Flynn was a pile of ash.

  It wasn’t Jolie, but instead the dead vampyres he killed. The dead Tueur’s remains that close to him pissed Flynn off. He wanted to kill him all over again.

  If this didn’t make Mathew talk, nothing would.

  They didn’t have definitive proof, and Jolie would never tear into his mind to find out.

  She loved him too much.

  So, they waited.

  It didn’t take long for the footsteps to be heard racing their way. Mathew was definitely distraught, since the undead were light on their feet.

  When the door burst open, he slid to a stop.

  “No!”

  Dropping to his knees, he crawled toward her—or what he thought had once been Jolie. When he reached the bed, he touched the ashes.

  “She’s gone?” he asked, as the gray dust fell through his fingers like sand.

  Jacques forced himself to mourn—all the while, he was studying his prey.

  “What happened?” Mathew asked.

  “The Tueur came into our home. They killed her first, and Flynn tried to save her. They died together,” Jacques said, hoping the man believed it.

  “No! She wasn’t supposed to die! She wasn’t supposed to get hurt. I didn’t want this!”

  Everyone stared at him.

  He’d done exactly what they hoped he would. Mathew had admitted his involvement.

  Clariel’s hand covered her mouth. “Mathew! What did you do?”

  “I only wanted her back. I needed her in my life. I didn’t know…they promised me they wouldn’t hurt her.”

  Percy grabbed him and slapped the silver manacles around his wrists.

  He didn’t even fight.

  “I’m sorry, Jolie. God! I’m sorry! They only wanted your children. You were supposed to live,” he whispered, tears streaking down his cheeks.

  Flynn sat up, pulling the sheet from his body.

  The people in the room gasped. Mathew looked horrified.

  “You betrayed us?” he asked, his eyes bleeding black and his fangs appearing. “You offered your family up to the Tueur?”

  Mathew nodded. “I’m sorry. I wanted her back. I didn’t want to be pushed out of her life. I can’t survive without her.”

  “Who was supposed to die?” Flynn asked.

  The others in the room were staring at him with mouths wide open in shock.

  “You and Jacques.”

  “Why, Mathew?” Jolie asked, entering the room. “Why would you betray us?”

  Everyone gasped again.

  “Mistress?” Mathew whispered.

  “Flynn saved me and our children. He killed the Tueur you let in. I won’t ever forgive you for what you could have cost me.”

  He crawled toward her on his knees, his hands locked behind his back.

  “I love you. I’ve always loved you. I didn’t want you to throw me away.”

  He rested his face on her legs.

  Jolie hurt for him.

  “I’m sorry.”

  Jolie knew it was out of her hands. Her mates weren’t happy before, but now they were over the top angry. There would be blood for this, and she couldn’t stop what was coming.

  It was now out of her hands.

  “It doesn’t matter. You sentenced yourself to death.”

  Clariel began weeping.

  Jolie crouched down to stare into Mathew’s aqua eyes. “You wouldn’t have been pushed away, Mathew. We had room for you in our life. Now my mates will end your life.”

  He nodded, resting his face on the floor. “I deserve it.”

  Jolie s
at, and pulled him into her arms. “I love you, Mathew. I really love you. This is going to put a hole in my heart that will never heal.”

  Her tears landed on his cheek.

  “I’m sorry I betrayed you. It was wrong. I deserve to die. I accept that, Jolie. I only wanted to hear that you loved me. I’ve lived long enough. I won’t fight the masters.”

  She kissed him on the forehead. “I’m sorry, Mathew. I wish you didn’t do this. We could forgive anything, but this is punishable by death.”

  He let her hold him.

  As he wept, he let her offer him that last emotional connection before Flynn and Jacques ended his life.

  “Please take care of Clariel. She’ll need someone.”

  The vampyre sobbed at his words. She’d already lost Trina, and now she was going to lose him too. “Oh, Mathew, why?”

  Jacques headed their way. “Come, Mathew. We need to handle this.”

  Jolie touched Mathew’s cheek. “You were our child. We loved you. I’ll never forget you, Mathew.”

  He sobbed. “I love you, Mistress.”

  Jacques and Flynn headed out with Mathew. They were going to do this before the whole family was up.

  Clariel stopped them at the door. “Master, please can I go with you. He’d made a mistake, but he shouldn’t die alone. No one should.”

  Flynn had a special place in his heart for this vampyre. Clariel was like a child in some ways, and he tried very hard to keep her safe.

  “You may, little one.”

  As they headed out, he turned to Percy and Tommy. “Watch Jolie. We’ll be back.”

  When the door closed, she headed toward the bed. There, she began weeping. Camille joined her and climbed onto the mattress to offer her some comfort.

  “Mistress, I’m so sorry,” she said.

  Everyone knew how much she loved Mathew. There were vampyres who were jealous of his favored status.

  They would celebrate his demise.

  Jolie sobbed and Camille held her. “It’s okay, Mistress. We’re here.”

  Tommy joined her as Percy stood guard at the door.

  “Today is one of the worst days of my life,” she whispered to the two people surrounding her. “I don’t know if I’ll ever recover from it. I never thought Mathew would betray us. I never saw this coming.”

  They believed her.

  Love had the power to destroy you.

  Here was the proof.

  * * * H a r c o u r t e * * *

  Outside, they found a spot in the trees where the sun wouldn’t hurt them. It was shady, and a good place to meet your maker.

  As they stood there, Jacques released him from the manacles. If he ran, they wouldn’t have to chase hard. He was an underling and the daylight had to be draining.

  Flynn pulled his gun and popped the magazine out. He replaced it with silver bullets. He didn’t want the man to suffer.

  In his head, he could hear Jolie’s mourning.

  Even Jacques looked upset.

  Neither of them wanted to do this. Mathew, while dangerous as a horrible guardian, was still a decent vampyre.

  Until he did this.

  His one mistake didn’t make them stop loving him. It only filled them with regret at what had to happen.

  They were taking no pleasure from killing him. This was the last thing they wanted to happen.

  “Is there anything you want to say?” Flynn asked.

  “I’m sorry,” Mathew said. “I know you hate me, and I deserve this. I was so overtaken with jealousy. I wanted her to love me. Now I won’t even have that.”

  Clariel stood by him, her head on his shoulder. She held his hand, praying for a miracle. What he did was wrong, but she hated to lose him too. This was her brother of sorts.

  He’d saved her.

  He’d loved her and Trina.

  He’d protected her.

  “Move away, Clariel,” Flynn said.

  She didn’t argue. She hugged him, tears staining his shirt. When she stared into his eyes, she saw the remorse. “I love you, Mathew. I wish you had come to me. I would have talked you out of this. Then I wouldn’t have to go on without you too.”

  He kissed her on the forehead. “I’m sorry, Clari. I’m so sorry. I made a mistake.”

  She sobbed as she stepped away from him.

  When she glanced over at Flynn, her face said it all.

  If he could give her this, he would. She deserved it. Clariel was one of the most loyal vampyres they had. She was always obedient.

  She was always grateful.

  Flynn lifted his gun.

  “Anything you wish to say?” he asked.

  “Yes. I’m sorry I hurt you both. I’m sorry I made a mistake and forgot that you loved me. I didn’t deserve it. I proved that. I’m sorry, Flynn. I’m sorry, Jacques. I accept my fate.”

  He dropped to his knees and stared at them. Mathew didn’t close his eyes. He had earned this, and he would face it down.

  “I’m ready.”

  “We sentence you to die, Mathew. You betrayed your mistress and masters to the Tueur. Your punishment is death,” Jacques said.

  He nodded.

  Clariel closed her eyes. She began crying for what she was about to lose.

  Flynn took aim.

  He put his finger on the trigger.

  He pulled it.

  The shot rang out.

  ∞ Chapter Twenty ∞

  Jolie heard it.

  The second the single gunshot rang out, she knew it was the end. Mathew had come into their life for only a short while, and she was going to miss him.

  As Camille held her, Jolie sobbed.

  “Mistress, you’ll make yourself sick. This isn’t good for the babies. Try to breathe.”

  She couldn’t get past the pain she felt to be calm. There was a huge hole in her heart—not only from the betrayal, but at the cost.

  Jolie wanted to save him. She wanted to fight with her mates, barter for his life, do anything, but she couldn’t.

  This put her in a horrible situation.

  Her mates were on one side, and a wounded vampyre who reminded her of herself was on the other.

  She loved them.

  She had a duty.

  It sucked.

  “I’ll be okay,” she said, sitting up.

  Tommy handed her some tissues. “What can we do for you, Jolie? Just ask, and we’ll help.”

  “I need a bath. Can you keep me company, Camille?” she asked, hoping the female vampyre wouldn’t leave. She needed someone at that moment, until her mates could come back.

  “I’ll stay,” Camille said, holding Jolie’s hand. “I’m here for you, Mistress.”

  Together, they headed out of the room and to the bath. Jolie needed a few moments to compose herself.

  This was going to be a moment that she would never forget—and not for good reasons.

  Her heart was broken.

  * * * H a r c o u r t e * * *

  Jacques couldn’t believe it.

  Flynn had missed.

  He knew it wasn’t accidental.

  “I can’t do it,” Flynn stated. “I have to let him go. My gut is telling me this is wrong.”

  Jacques agreed.

  His was too.

  “What do we do?”

  Flynn had an idea. Moving toward the vampyre, he stared into his eyes. “I’m going to give you two choices. You can leave here, never coming back and have your life, or you can take your own life. I’m not going to be the one who punishes you. For weeks, we’ve tried to teach you accountability, Mathew, and it comes down to this. You screwed up, and you have to own it.”

  “I’m not strong enough to take my life. I deserve to die.”

  That was the point.

  “Then you’re going to have to leave.”

  He looked scared. “Where will I go?” he asked. “This was my only home.”

  Jacques pulled out a credit card from his wallet. He handed it to the man. “You are forbidden fr
om staying in New Orleans. Where you go is up to you, but you will not stay here.”

  He stared at the card.

  He didn’t understand.

  “Why are you doing this?”

  “Because we love you and so does Jolie. To kill you will hurt her, and end your pain. You need to live the rest of your life knowing that you had people who cared about you more than themselves. We would have died to protect you, Mathew. You gave that up.”

  His eyes teared up again.

  He didn’t expect this.

  “You were like a son to us. We loved having you around, and we truly enjoyed your presence,” Jacques stated.

  He didn’t know what to say.

  “Had you not betrayed us, you would have been the family artist. You would have had a place with us. Because you couldn’t be a guardian that didn’t mean we didn’t have a spot for you.”

  Clariel crawled toward Flynn. Gently, she touched him on the leg.

  “Can I leave with him?” she asked, keeping her head low.

  Flynn had a feeling that would be what she’d ask. These two vampyres had only intersected their lives temporarily, but they mattered.

  He knelt in front of her and lifted her chin. “Is that what you want?” he asked.

  “I don’t want to leave you and the mistress, but Mathew is my family too. He won’t survive without me. I won’t survive without him. We can’t. Delina damaged us so we’re not whole without each other. Even our time here didn’t fix us. You tried, but I can’t stay without him, and I know he doesn’t deserve to remain. I’ll make the sacrifice.”

  He kissed her on the cheek. “I’ll miss you, little one. You always have a home here. If Mathew settles himself, and you ever want to come back, you’re welcome here. You have my number, and you can always reach out for me. I’ll come for you and bring you home.”

  She nodded, tears streaming down her cheeks.

  “You don’t have to do this, Clariel,” Mathew stated.

  “I do,” she replied. “You protected us from Delina when she wanted to hurt us. You took the abuse when we couldn’t carry any more. I’ll help carry this, Mathew. Family does that.”