Hudson
“How do you feel?” Valen asked. It took Hudson a long time, longer than it should, to formulate an answer.
Everything was hazy and his brain was fogged. His thoughts happened just as quickly as they always had, but the connection between thoughts and actions twisted and turned.
“Hudson. Answer.”
His tongue tried to form the sounds of speech. Finally, he got it. “Too much.”
“The dose?” Valen asked. “The dose was too much?”
Hudson nodded. His head fell back, and he stared at the ceiling. Right. His head had to go in the other direction, too, or else he was just staring at the ceiling like a dope.
“Yeah,” Valen said. He must have been on the phone. “He is definitely zombie-like.”
Far off, he thought he heard Marcus’s voice asking how long it had been since he’d taken the medicine.
“Fifteen minutes,” Valen asked. “But we started with a low dose, and when that didn’t work, we kept going.” There was a pause and then, “Okay.”
It was hard to stand—or sit. Hudson wasn’t sure what he was doing, so he let himself collapse. Something soft caught him. Bed.
“Hudson. We need to run.”
Run? He could barely lie here. Valen expected him to move? Impossible. But the world shifted and a cold blast of garbage scented air hit his face.
“Rough night,” someone said and laughed.
Valen chuckled, but his arm under Hudson’s tightened. The wind picked up, blowing the cobwebs out of his head. Hudson glanced at the ground and saw his feet were moving.
Huh. He didn’t realize. The ground blurred, and then it seemed to rise up. Right before he face-planted, Valen caught him. “Careful friend.”
“Sorry,” he answered.
“That’s good. Your speech is returning. How do you feel?” Valen asked, concerned.
“Hazy,” he answered. “Can’t move fast.”
Valen tsked. “You just ran twenty miles. What do you see?”
Slowly, Hudson became aware of the world surrounding them. Bright lights glared on the horizon, like he was staring at a sports stadium, but beyond that was pure black. “Where are we?” he asked.
“You can see?” Valen asked.
Hudson blinked and shadows formed and became recognizable. Those lights weren’t from a stadium, but from a marina. They were at some kind of loading dock. All around them were huge containers and anchored ships. They were on the shores of the lake. “I can see,” Hudson answered, and Valen let out a breath.
“And you can speak in sentences again. That’s a relief.”
Hudson came back to himself, the haze cleared completely, and he could process what had happened. “That dose was definitely too high.”
“You were a zombie,” Valen said. “I prefer you as the undead you’ve always been.”
Hudson laughed and then sighed. “I’m glad we started with these drugs. I’m not as upset they failed.”
“Really?” Valen asked. Now that he could move around, Hudson began to walk away from the water. He wanted to see the lake without the lights and ships. He pointed to a place that looked like the shore and they ran there. In seconds, they were at a much more deserted, and darker, spot.
“Yes,” Hudson said. “The drugs I took were supposed to counter hallucinations in people with a condition called schizophrenia. I don’t believe my hallucinations have the same origin, and therefore the drugs that work on this condition wouldn’t work for me.”
“Or maybe they will,” Valen said. “Theia wasn’t in your head this time.”
“Yes,” Hudson agreed. “But I will be no good to anyone if I am unable to move or speak. My presence would be a weakness. One of you would be forced to protect me.”
“Ah,” Valen answered. “And what was the little one’s other idea.”
“She believes Theia made it impossible for me to filter real and pretend images.”
“How is that different?” Valen asked. He picked up a stone from the shore and threw it toward the darkness. It was a while before Hudson caught the plunk where it hit the water. “You remember you promised her we’d return.”
When Valen had refused to leave him, Hudson’d been angry. He’d wanted to be alone and wallow in his weakness. Why had Valen followed him? Valen couldn’t help him. If someone could help actually hypothesize and experiment, it was Marcus.
But he’d been wrong. Marcus would have helped, yes, but he would have pushed Hudson. Constantly. Marcus’s anxiety to return to Briar would have made any work he did sloppy.
Valen had been a constant, supportive presence. He was absolutely certain Valen wanted to get back to Briar more than anything, but he’d never rushed Hudson.
Valen was exactly the companion he didn’t know he needed.
“Thank you,” Hudson said.
Examining the rock he held, Valen gave a nod. “No problem.” He skipped it. Hudson counted five before it stopped. “You would have face planted if I hadn’t nudged you in the right direction.”
“Not that,” Hudson said. “Well. Yes. Also that. But I mean, thank you for following me. Even when I was a bastard to you and demanded you leave.”
Bending down, Valen grabbed another rock. “You’re my brother.”
“I’ve watched you care for all of us at one time or another. You kept Sylvain tied to this world when neither Marcus nor I could. You know, I’ve always thought of myself as strong.”
“Needing help doesn’t make one weak, Hudson.” Eight skips before Hudson lost count.
Smiling, he nodded. “You mean Sylvain. You think I’m implying he was weak for needing your company, I’m not. I’m comparing myself to you.”
The rock in his hand fell into the water. Blinking, Valen shook his head. “You think I’m strong?”
“Not just physically strong,” Hudson said. “Though you’re a beast—a Viking warrior—but your physical strength is only the most obvious one. You have persevered well beyond any being’s ability.”
Valen cleared his throat. “You’re my family. I would die for you. Any of you.”
“It is humbling, brother,” Hudson said, and before he could think too much about it, he grabbed Valen and tugged him into an embrace. He patted his back, squeezing tightly for a moment and then released him to step away. “So thank you.”
Valen stared at him. It was probably just a trick of the light on the water, but his eyes looked watery. “You’re welcome.”
Both of them stared at the water, listening to the waves lap the shore. “I’d like to bring Briar here,” Valen said. Behind them, someone laid on their horn, yelling more swears than even Sylvain was capable of stringing together. “Well, maybe not exactly here.”
Hudson chuckled. “I agree. Not exactly here, but the Great Lakes. It would be fun to explore with her.”
“Yes,” Valen said. “All of us. Together.”
Briar
When Briar got out of the shower, both guys were in her bed. Sylvain did something on her phone while Marcus read a book. Her bed looked much smaller, but just as inviting, with both of them in it.
She leapt through the air and landed between them, shimmying under the covers. “What are you doing?” she asked Sylvain.
“Talking to your mother,” he answered distractedly. In all her life, Briar may never have heard more frightening words.
“What?” she squeaked. “Why?”
“Your phone buzzed, and I thought it was a game like Marcus has on his phone.” He suddenly started chuckling. “Your mother is hilarious. This is a lot of fun.”
“Why didn’t you stop him?” she demanded of Marcus.
Shrugging, he kept his eyes on his book, but she caught a slight upward tilt of his lips. He was laughing at her! “What harm can he possibly do in five minutes?”
“Read them.” She sat up, glaring at Sylvain who still hadn’t looked at her.
“The messages?” Sylvain asked. “Okay.” He took a breath and beg
an, “‘Briar, has school been canceled?’ To which I replied, ‘Hi, this is Sylvain. I’m Briar’s new boyfriend. It’s nice to meet you. School is canceled.’ This is where she became—I don’t want to say irate, but it’s a word close to that.”
Marcus chuckled. “Keep reading.”
Briar didn’t think it was possible for vampires to faint, but her pulse was roaring in her ears, thudding dully as Sylvain continued. “‘Why didn’t Briar tell us? Where are you from? How could she keep something like this from me…’ this goes on awhile and it’s pretty repetitive. I replied, calmed her down a bit with my incredible writing ability—”
“I showed him how to take a selfie,” Marcus interrupted. “Things calmed down after that.”
No doubt. Briar couldn’t help giggling, and Sylvain smiled at her.
“Eventually, she accepted you’re staying here, and now she’s sending me hilarious photos of you.” Sylvain chuckled, typed and then put the phone on the bedside table. “She had to go. Your dad wants to use the smoker later, so she’s buying ribs.” He waggled his eyebrows. “Sounds gory.”
Briar relaxed. It seemed like the conversation went well and Sylvain had thoroughly charmed Mom. She was certain his picture hadn’t hurt either. Sylvain was a gorgeous man.
Yawning, she snuggled under her covers. “Go to sleep, Briar.” Marcus placed his book on his chest and leaned over, kissing her gently. “We’ll keep you company.”
She nodded, turned onto her side, and brought the covers over her shoulder. Closing her eyes, she focused on her heartbeat, counting the seconds between each thump. Soon, she drifted asleep.
Briar stood on a bridge. She turned in a slow circle, taking in the landmarks around her. The Boston skyline was behind her, and she made out the Prudential Tower.
This was a dream. The scenery shifted and morphed until red and orange leaves blew around her feet. Briar knelt, capturing one of the red maple leaves between her fingers. She brought it to her nose, wondering if the earthy, sweet scent would translate to a dream state. It did.
The wind blew colder and stronger, and the sky darkened. Briar reached out her mind, searching for a presence. There—at the edge of her consciousness—she found it and tethered it. The scene shifted again, and she stood on the shore of the Atlantic. The waves were white capped and snow blew across the icy water. Briar imagined her tether was a rope, and when she glanced down, she saw she held the end in her hand. It was rough against her palms, connected to someone far out at sea who struggled against her binding.
Slowly concentrating, Briar dragged the form closer. It appeared, hazy at first, fighting and kicking against her inexorable pull until Briar could tug her to shore.
Then, seeing how she had no choice, the woman Briar had summoned stood straight and proud.
Theia.
“This time,” Briar said. “I did bring you here.”
The wind whipped Theia’s dark curls around her shoulders, and Briar shivered. Her clothing stuck to her as if she’d truly been dumped into the ocean. “And here I am.” Her green eyes sparked dangerously. “Unwilling.”
“Leave Boston.”
Theia threw her head back, laughing, and Briar caught sight of her sharp fangs. There was no reason to hide here. Briar’s own lip swelled as her fangs descended. I’m here. Her vampire was alert and aware, ready to be called upon to fight.
“I’m giving you this chance,” Briar said. “We will stop you from controlling Hudson, and if it takes us months, we will eliminate every crawler and soldier in this city. You think you’ve won a powerful throne, but it’s made of bones and ash. And it will take nothing to unseat you.”
Theia hissed, striding across the rocks and driftwood to Briar. “You’re threatening me? You? Pale, weak princess?” She spat the words at Briar, her nose wrinkling like she smelled something awful. “I will merely make more soldiers. More crawlers.”
“We have eternity to fight this battle,” Briar warned.
“Yes.” Theia smiled, her fangs disappearing. “But do humans? Their life is over in a flash. There will be so many ended before their time if you want war.”
The thought of innocent victims made Briar’s stomach clench. Be strong. She squared her shoulders. “I’ll kill you.”
“Briar, we could end this all right now.” She held out her hands in a placating gesture, but Briar didn’t trust her. Neither did her vampire, who growled and glared.
“How?”
“You leave Boston. Leave Asher’s sons. Leave my crawlers and soldiers. A throne of bones and ash…” She shook her head. “Child… that is the throne every vampire dreams of.” A wrinkle appeared between Theia’s perfect eyebrows, and for a second, she appeared sympathetic and sad. “When I left Asher, I had two choices: disappear or fight for the kingdom he’d made. All I wanted was to go and be mistress of my own fate. Sacrifices had to be made.”
“So why appear now?” Briar asked.
“Do you know what it’s like to hide?”
Briar did. Her entire life was spent in the shadows, watching life happen to everyone else but her.
Theia watched her, smiling as she read Briar’s understanding. “It hurts. It is utterly lonely. Now imagine thousands of years of loneliness. What would you do with that time? Would you dream about the life you deserved if you could only get it? And then—if that life were within your reach—would you grasp it? Would you risk everything for it?”
“What you want is power, Theia. So no. I wouldn’t risk everything for it.”
Theia frowned. “How can you have a family without power? How would you protect them?”
“Is that what you want?” Briar did want to protect her family.
“That’s what I’m doing.” Theia held her hands out as if she wanted to hold Briar’s hands. Earnestly, she approached her. “The crawlers and soldiers. They become my family. The day-walking vampires. My family.”
“Hudson, Sylvain, Marcus, and Valen are my family,” Briar warned. “And the crawlers and soldiers… their minds are sick. You can’t save them.”
Theia dropped her hands and made her eyes wide. “Save them?”
“You said you wanted to protect them.” Theia’s train of thought was difficult to follow. It was like they had two parallel conversations. Neither one grasped the meaning of the other, but thought they did.
“They are perfect the way they are.” Theia stared at her. “Why would I want to change them?”
Briar’s frustration with Theia grew. As it did, the weather around them changed. Snow began to fall, obscuring everything except the two of them. It swirled in tiny white tornados. A thought occurred to her. “If I gave you the crawlers and soldiers, and your life, would you take them? Leave Boston and go somewhere. Somewhere far away where humans are few.”
Theia laughed. The snow fell on her hair, catching in her perfect corkscrew curls. “No. I would not do that. First of all, crawlers and soldiers must be fed. Like you and me. And secondly, what is the point of having power if you can’t use it? I will not live like those other vampires, alone and cut off from the world.”
Her vampires didn’t live that way. What was Theia talking about?
“So we can’t agree.” Briar hadn’t had much hope she could convince Theia to leave, but what little there had been disappeared in a puff of smoke.
“We were never going to agree.” Theia’s false smile faded away. “But now we know where the other stands. It is better to go to war honestly, don’t you think?”
“I’d rather you left,” Briar said. “That would be better.”
Theia laughed. Her fangs had descended again, white and sharp and wicked looking. Briar’s vampire growled a warning. “We can’t always get what we want, princess,” she added the last word heavy with sarcasm.
Briar, and her vampire, were done with this pointless conversation. This dream world was hers, and it was time for Theia to leave. Before she did however, Briar wanted to set one thing straight. With only a thought, ice for
med around Theia’s feet, crystalizing to grip around the vampire’s ankles and calves to hold her still. Briar stalked toward her, and for the first time, Theia looked nervous.
“You wanted war,” Briar said, quietly. “And you got it. But now I want you gone forever.” The ice continued to travel up Theia’s thighs and to her waist. No matter how much she struggled, Briar’s ice held her fast. They stood inches apart and Theia hissed. “It will happen, Theia.” Finished with the conversation, Briar decided to leave. Theia could stay in the ice. The entire world would disappear once Briar awoke, but before she did, her vampire had one more warning for Theia. “And if you’re going to call me anything, it’s Queen. Not, princess.”
The last thing Briar heard before she woke was Theia’s impotent roar.
Prickly skin rubbed against Briar’s face before Sylvain kissed her cheek. “Your skin is chilly,” he whispered.
“It was snowing,” she replied sleepily as she blinked awake.
He narrowed his eyes as he met her gaze. “What do you mean?”
Briar pillowed her head with her hands. “I called Theia.” Sylvain glanced at the cell phone still sitting on the side table.
“I haven’t left your side since you fell asleep,” he said.
Briar giggled and moved her hands. She reached for him, sliding a hand across his chest and then resting her head there. “In the dream world. I called her there to talk. We weren’t able to reach an understanding.”
“What?” Sylvain’s loud voice made her wince and jerk her head back.
“I thought I’d use my powers for good…” Briar joked, but seeing Sylvain’s darkening face, she stopped smiling. “I hoped I could convince her to see reason and take her crawlers and soldiers somewhere away from humans.”
“That was dangerously stupid, Briar.”
“Hey!” She sat up fast. “That’s not fair. Or true. In the dream state…”
“Do you remember what it did to your body when Asher attacked you there?” Sylvain asked, angrily. “Marcus!”
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