“Quinn,” he breathed, his eyes drawn to hers, the perfect blend of violet and blue, “you will never know how sorry I am. I know nothing will ever make up for what I have done, but you have to let me help you. I would never, ever, hurt you. You have to believe that.”
He couldn’t look back at the stake. All he could see were those eyes, the last thing he would ever see. They were so beautiful, he almost didn’t mind.
“They are all going to die,” Quinn sobbed, “all of them! Because of you! You did this; for Charlotte. For the Quest!”
“I know.” The words, though barely more than a whisper, seemed to echo through the empty schoolyard around them, carried by the wind. “And I have no excuse. Charlotte bewitched me, as she has so many times before and I couldn’t think straight. But you saved me... don’t you see that?” Quinn finally lifted her eyes to meet his, the truth in his words impossible to deny, but eliciting a million questions. “She meant to kill you,” Drake continued, “and I couldn’t let that happen. You freed me. You freed me from the hold she had over me.”
Quinn’s hand faltered on the stake and she realised that she should never have looked into his eyes. They were arctic green, but, when he looked at her, they were familiar and kind, and filled with something that made him somehow less of a monster and more of a man.
“You’re lying.” She tried one last time to hold onto her anger, to do what needed to be done.
“I’m not going to fight you,” he murmured, an infinite sadness coming over him. “I swear on everything I hold dear that I didn’t mean to kill your friend. I don’t even know what happened. I would never have done this to you,” his gaze fell to her wrist and lingered on the black tattoo.
“I can only hope that one day you will accept that and know that I never meant to hurt you. I know that nothing can ever be between us, not now, after everything I’ve done, but you need to know the truth. I love you, Quinn. I’ve loved you since the day we met, and I will love you until hell freezes over, seeing as that’s where I’m going.” Quinn heard his words but she didn’t understand them until he finally said, “I’m going to let go now.”
Her eyes widened in shock and understanding as Drake’s arms dropped limply to his sides and he closed his eyes in a gesture of utter acceptance. Quinn fell forward as the resistance against her arms ceased suddenly, a cry of “No!” erupting from her lips as she moved with lightning reflexes and collapsed heavily onto his chest, the stake trapped innocently between them.
Quinn stifled a sob as his arms came around her, pulling her even closer. Her hands were still clutched around the handle of the stake, which was cold against her stomach, lying flat between them. She had twisted it just in time – averted the point so that no harm would come to him. She had betrayed her own; betrayed the wards she was sworn to protect; betrayed everything she stood for to save the life of the vampire she had fallen in love with.
Drake held her as she wept, wishing for all the world he could take her pain away. His own heart was heavy in his chest as he considered how many of the Summerfeld wards would have been slaughtered by now and he could only imagine her grief. When she finally pulled away from him he thought his heart would burst, but he held his tongue, knowing that anything he said now would only make things worse.
Quinn composed herself, angrily brushing away her tears.
“You said you know of a place I can take them, where they will be safe?” she croaked eventually, keeping her back to him. “Where is it?”
“Lenora’s house. She’s always lived off the grid, not even the council knows where it is. You’ll be safe there.”
“Where is it?”
“It’s a three day journey, north of here.” He gave her the directions, wishing she would turn around. When he had finished, she nodded.
“Thank you.” She had taken only one step, when he called her.
“Quinn...”
“I can’t,” she shook her head. “Please, just leave me alone.”
“We head north,” Quinn told the others when she reached the clearing.
“Where have you been?” Braddon’s voice was a mixture of frustration that she had so easily eluded him and relief that she was okay.
“I found Drake and Lenora. They were holed up in a motel. Lenora has offered her home to us. It’s out of the way and the vampires don’t know about it, but we have to get moving... it’s a long way.”
“Wait a minute!” Daniel raised his voice as everyone got to their feet. “Quinn, I don’t know what your intentions are with regards to the vampire but he is not welcome to come with us. Lenora has proven herself trustworthy, but Drake is our enemy. I may have tolerated him inside the City because we needed his help, but he murdered Blair. If he comes within five feet of us I will kill him.”
Quinn met his gaze unflinchingly.
“Blair’s death pained me far more than it did you,” she said, as she held out her wrist to prove her point and Daniel gazed upon her black tattoo as she continued, “you don’t need to tell me what he is or what he’s done. I know. He won’t come near us again.”
Chapter 9
Charlotte dipped an idle finger into the fountain as she waited. The water, black in the moonlight, burned her finger instantly, and she yanked it out, watching as the blistered flesh healed. She had been waiting all day for night to fall and now that it had, it was only a matter of time before the council arrived to see for themselves what she had accomplished. She had sent Tristan home to rest. The Guardian had done well and deserved a reprieve. He was displeased that the others had managed to escape, but they would soon be taken care of. Tristan and Charlotte had never consummated their unlikely friendship, but, with Tane and Drake gone, and her insatiable physical appetite unmet, she pondered the possibility of taking their relationship to the next level.
The thought of Drake incensed her. She was furious that he had chosen the unremarkable Guardian woman over her. Charlotte had recognised Quinn instantly, but Tristan had never mentioned her alliance with Drake. He had obviously underestimated their relationship, which was certainly more than a simple friendship, given that Drake had risked everything to protect her. No, Charlotte knew better than that. Drake was in love with Quinn, which meant that he had never really fallen for Charlotte’s own charms. It was the ultimate insult and the cause of her foul temper. Again, she stuck her finger under the gurgling water in a masochistic rage.
“Charlotte,” a deep voice greeted her and she smiled an evil, arrogant smile as she turned to face the council.
“Roman,” she narrowed her eyes. “Where are Sloane and Dimitri?” After what she had accomplished she expected a hero’s welcome. She had achieved the impossible and she deserved to be applauded by the others. In fact, the entire council should be at her feet.
“I came alone.” Roman spoke softly. “I wanted to speak with you before the others arrived.”
Appeased, Charlotte settled back on the fountain’s edge, crossing her ankles daintily and waiting expectantly for the praise that never came.
“Well?” she snapped eventually. “What is it that you wanted to say?”
“On the contrary,” he drawled menacingly, “it was you who wished to speak with me.”
Charlotte narrowed her eyes in confusion.
“Weren’t you insisting on a face-to-face meeting only a few days ago?” he sneered, and Charlotte’s heart dropped into her stomach as the meaning of his words sunk in.
Leaping from the fountain, she dropped meekly to the ground at his feet.
“Forgive me, Sire,” she pleaded, all traces of arrogant pride vanishing instantly. “I did not know.”
“Of course you didn’t. Only my most trusted circle knows of my true identity. After your feat this evening, you are now within that circle. Get to your feet, Charlotte,” he ordered. “You have done me a great service and for that you will be rewarded.”
“Thank you, Sire.”
“After what you have accomplished, you may call me Alek
sei,” he smiled, his fangs glinting in the moonlight.
Aleksei Mortaine had kept the flame of his revenge alight for over a thousand years. He would never forgive Eldon for murdering his only son, Julian. Enah’s death had gone some way toward balancing the scales of justice, but Aleksei would not be satisfied until every single member of the Fae, and the creatures that had fought alongside them, were obliterated. He had waged a war that had been as bloody as it was bold and, one by one, Eldon’s supporters had fallen to the might of Aleksei’s army.
Then Eldon had created Summerfeld and called upon the twelve human Guardians to protect it and its inhabitants, and Aleksei had feared that his vengeance might never be realised. The City was hidden by powerful magic, and, wary of the Hunters his enemy had created, Aleksei had retreated, lurking in the shadows under a false identity. It had infuriated him and reduced him to nothing more than a coward.
Now Charlotte had changed everything. She and the Guardian who had been coerced. He could still barely believe it.
“Take me to the Guardian,” Aleksei ordered, and Charlotte hastily complied.
Tristan opened the door, wondering why Charlotte would call on him at this late hour when she had been so adamant that he rest. To his surprise, when he opened the door, she was not alone.
“Tristan,” she smiled, looking apprehensive. “I would like you to meet King Aleksei.”
Tristan’s mouth gaped. Aleksei had not been seen or heard of in over a thousand years. Many believed he had died of a broken heart, just like King Eldon himself.
“Invite me in,” Aleksei instructed, and Tristan heard the power resonating in his voice.
“Of course, come in.” He stepped aside and they entered the house.
“I must say, I was most surprised to learn that a Guardian had betrayed the City,” Aleksei mused, his eyes sweeping the small living area. “Although I can certainly understand your decision, given the circumstances.” He stopped before the portrait of Avery, gazing at it thoughtfully.
“May I ask how you fought your tainted blood?” Aleksei asked, referring to the blood of the ten that flowed through Tristan’s veins.
“It was not without difficulty,” Tristan replied evenly.
“Eldon’s magic is very powerful,” Aleksei conceded.
“Not powerful enough, apparently.”
Aleksei chuckled. The boy had nerve. “Where is your crystal?”
“May I?” Tristan asked, and Aleksei stepped away from the portrait.
Feeling around the base of the frame, Tristan pulled it away from the wall, exposing a tiny hollow in the brick behind it. Stepping aside, Tristan gestured Aleksei forward. Inside the hollow was a small package, wrapped in cloth, and Aleksei leaned forward to retrieve it, opening it up to reveal the dark tanzanite crystal within.
“Where are the others?” Aleksei’s question unsettled both Tristan and Charlotte.
“My wife’s sister found her crystal before I could. I had hoped to convince her to reveal the location of both Avery’s and her own, but sadly, there wasn’t enough time.”
“You mean you couldn’t seduce her?” Aleksei’s displeasure was obvious but Tristan ignored the barb.
“I had also hoped to convince my niece, but she was... distracted.”
“Distracted?”
“She was under Isaiah’s tutelage, and what little free time she had was spent with a gypsy boy she took a liking to.”
“A gypsy boy?” Aleksei made a mental note. He would have his people hunt down the gypsies and find out what they knew. “Charlotte?” he turned on her suddenly, and she seemed to shrink under his scrutiny.
“I... I did manage to secure two of the crystals, my Lord, although I am not sure who they belonged to.”
“Where are they now?”
“They were taken from me,” Charlotte lamented.
“Taken? By whom?”
“A vampire named Drake,” her lip curled. “He is working with the Guardians.”
“Drake? I’ve never heard of him.”
“He is nothing... a nobody.”
“And yet he managed to outwit you.”
Charlotte squirmed with embarrassment. “I will find the stones.”
“No matter, my dear,” Aleksei softened considerably. “So long as we have one crystal the others are useless. The Rose Gate cannot be opened.” He closed the portrait and stared once more at Avery’s form.
“She was very beautiful, your wife,” he said. Charlotte’s eyes narrowed as she gazed upon the portrait, such a striking likeness of her nemesis, Quinn.
“Thank you,” Tristan acknowledged the compliment.
“What happened to her?” The question caught Tristan off guard.
“She was killed,” he replied eventually. Aleksei didn’t ask how, but the nasty smile that crossed his face implied he knew all too well.
“Charlotte,” Aleksei turned to her, and to her astonishment he offered her Tristan’s crystal. “Make sure that you take better care of this one.”
“I will guard it with my life, my Lord,” Charlotte vowed.
Chapter 10
The Guardians had led the precious group all through the day. Not used to such arduous travel many of the wards were in a bad way, but they pressed on, determined to get as far away from Summerfeld as possible. Quinn noticed that the gypsies were faring almost as well as the Guardians, no doubt used to the hardships of being on the road with little to eat or drink.
Lenora joined the weary travellers a few hours after sundown. She didn’t say much, but she guided them well and her presence went a long way toward bolstering their spirits. Nobody questioned her presence there. It occurred to Quinn that, as precarious as their situation was, the more fighters they had, the better. No one wanted to turn away someone who would help, regardless of how strange the alliance might be. Quinn also used Lenora as a gauge of her Hunter instincts. She was pleasantly surprised to find that she could be in Lenora’s company quite comfortably. The Hunters’ instincts enabled them to track and kill vampires, but they could control their talent. Lenora was no threat, and, while Quinn was acutely aware of her and every move she made, she didn’t have any urge to kill her.
In addition to their physical fatigue, the journey was fraught with tension as they evaded human settlements. It was imperative that they kept the wards hidden and didn’t draw any attention to themselves. The unicorns seemed to sense the danger they were in and heeded every gentle command issued to them by the Fae, but the Orochian could not be controlled, nor could he walk more than a few miles as the rest of them could.
“Dammit!” Daniel cursed, as, with a thunderous whine, the dragon took off once more, rising straight up into the air. Monique’s face peered helplessly down at them.
“Not much she can do about it,” Quinn pointed out wryly. Monique’s sheer presence calmed the Orochian enough that it moved meekly along with their group, not trying to savage anyone, or worse, but she could hardly control the beast’s natural instinct to fly. Fortunately, they were taking the road less travelled and no one had been around to observe him... yet.
“At least it’s dark now,” Lenora offered. Jonas, who was walking beside her, smiled for the first time since sustaining his injuries. “My surgeon will attend to you the second we arrive,” Lenora added, consolingly.
Quinn, whose mind would not be still, slowly fell back, letting the others get ahead of her.
“Are you okay?” Isaiah, astute as ever, had noticed, and slowed his pace to match hers.
“I’m fine,” she sighed.
“I am sorry about Drake.”
“He’s a vampire. I should have expected it.”
“They’re not all bad,” he reminded her, and she followed the line of his gaze to watch Lenora up ahead. “And unlike the rest of us, I know how it feels to care about one of them.”
“You loved her.” Quinn spoke without thinking, but his answer was as unexpected as it was tragic.
“I still do,” he replie
d simply, “but I am the Slayer. And I hurt her very deeply. I don’t think she will ever forgive me.”
“I don’t believe that. You couldn’t help it, Isaiah. It’s not your fault... you made a mistake. Granted, it was a pretty big one, but you didn’t choose to be what you are.”
“Exactly.” He smiled knowingly and Quinn got the distinct feeling that he wasn’t talking about himself anymore.
“That’s different.”
“Is it? Drake made a mistake, just like I did. He acted instinctively, just as I did.” His amber eyes seemed to bore through her, as though he could read the truth in her troubled mind. “He didn’t choose to be what he is either, Quinn.”
“So you disagree with Daniel?”
“Daniel will not be swayed. I believe it’s in the best interest of everyone concerned that you keep Drake as far away from him as you can, but I know that this is not easy for you, and I wonder if the sacrifice you make today might haunt you tomorrow.”
He left her then to consider his words. Alone once more with her thoughts Quinn craved a distraction – anything to ease the incessant pounding in her head. Not too long after, she got exactly what she had wished for.
She sensed them at the exact moment Daniel turned to warn the others. In unison, Quinn, Liam and Garrett moved to each corner of their group, shepherding the others into a tight circle. With a low snarling crescendo, the six wolves turned instantly. The other Guardians moved to protect the wards, and Quinn heard the hiss of displaced air as Isaiah drew his sword.
“Stay here,” Daniel warned him. Isaiah needed to keep the others safe, as difficult as it was for him to fight his urge to slay. That was the difference between the Hunters and the Slayer, Quinn realised. They could control their instincts, whereas Isaiah’s were a thousandfold stronger. It took incredible self-discipline for him not to act. Gritting his teeth, his eyes closed, Isaiah nodded, and Lenora moved discreetly away from him.
Guardians of Summerfeld: Full Series: Books 1-4 Page 61